Suitcase having retractable, removable wheels



Dec. 15, 1959 DENHOLM 2,917,317

SUITCASE HAVING RETRACTABLE, REMOVABLE WHEELS l6 m 6 7 2 l8 63,A-:::: 28 r" all //|6 l4 l8/ 54 I2 22 52 I P so 10 1:: I

1 ,34 24 IV i 24-2 2 64 e4 24- c) 30 62 7" 24 INVENTOR.

4 JOHN DENHOLM BY Fig. 2

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SUITCASE HAVING RETRACTABLE, REMOVABLE John Denholm, San Diego, Calif.

' Application March 10, 1958, Serial No. 720,434 Claims. (Cl. 280-43.24)

The present invention relates generally to luggage and more particularly to a suitcase having retractable, removable wheels.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a suitcase having retractable wheels which may be used as a rolling support for the suitcase when heavily loaded and, which may be retracted for ease of handling and storage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a suitcase in which the wheel supports are telescopic so that the height may be adjusted to bring the suitcase handle to a convenient handling position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a suitcase in which the wheels and their supports may be removed completely and stored within the suitcase when not in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wheel assembly which is adaptable to many types of luggage such as personal suitcases, salesmens sample cases, equipment containers and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a suitcase which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Finally, it is an object to provide a convertible suitcase of the aforementioned character which is simple to construct, convenient to use and which will give generally eflicient and durable service.

With theseand other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the suitcase with wheels retracted, one corner portion being cut awayidentical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the suitcase 10 comprises a generally rectangular box having a front wall 12, a back wall 14, end walls 16 and a hinged lid 18, with a suitable handle 20 being provided on top. It should be understood that the suitcase 10 represents but one type of container, such as a salesmans sample case, and the container may actually be of considerably different proportions and structure. The front wall 12 and back wall 14 are both extended downwardly beyond the bottom panel 22 to provide skirts 24, on which the suitcase rests when the wheels are retracted, the skirts also concealing the retracted wheels. The skirts 24 may be integral with the suitcase structure or may be attached thereto as a portion of the wheel assembly, when the invention is embodied in a kit for attachment to a conventional suitcase.

The wheel assembly comprises a pair of identical wheel units 26 which are interchangeable and are mounted on the end Walls 16. Each wheel unit 26 includes a backing plate 28, a base plate 30 pivotally secured to the lower end of said backing plate by means of hinges 32, and a locking plate 34 which secures the base plate in extended position. Fixed to the base plate 30 is a transverse mounting block 36 to which are secured two casters 38, one pair thereof, at one end of the suitcase being preferably of the swivelling type, while the other pair will preferably be non-swivelling. The backing plate 28 has a pair of parallel, longitudinal slots 40 adjacent its upper end, said slots having bevelled edges 42 to receive the countersunk heads 44 of guide pins 46, which are fixed in the end wall 16. The backing plate 28 is thus slidable longitudinally on the guide pins 46, which are flush with the surface of the backing plate, the slots 40 having generally circular enlargements 48 corresponding with the size of the heads 44, so that the backing plate may be entirely removed from said guide pins. The upper end of the backing plate 28 has a raised'flange 50 to serve as a finger grip for adjusting the wheel unit..

The locking plate 34 is slightly smaller than the backing plate 28 and slides on its outer surface, said locking plate having a central longitudinal slot 52 adjacent its upper end. The backing plate 28 also has a longitudinal central slot 54 corresponding to the slot 52, so that a clamp pin 56, fixed at its base to the end wall 16, extends through both slots and is fitted at its outer end with a thumbscrew 58, or the like. The lower end of the backing plate 28 has a pair of parallel, open ended retaining slots 60 and the base plate 30 has a pair of open ended locking slots 62 coextensive with said retaining slots, as in Figures 4 and 5. Fixed to the lower end of the locking plate 34 are two inwardly projecting lock pins 64 which extend through the retaining slots 60, said lock pins having enlarged heads 66. The upper end of the locking plate 34 has a raised flange 68 to facilitate handling.

To hold the wheels in retracted position, each mounting block 36 has a roller catch 70 fixed thereon to engage in a spring clip 72 secured to the underside of the bottom panel 22, as in Figures 1 and 3 Other types of catches may be equally suitable, however.

In the retracted position, the base plates 30 are hinged upwardly and secured by their catches 70, so being completely enclosed between the skirts 24. The hinges 32 may be spring biased if desired to retract the wheels. In this position, the backing plate 28 and locking plate 34 are fully withdrawn upwardly and secured in place by the thumbscrew 58, the lock pins 64 being retained in the retaining slots 60.

To extend the wheel units 26,'the base plates 30 are hinged downwardly, the thumbscrew 58 is loosened and the locking plate 34 is slid downwardly so that the lock pins 64 pass from the retaining slots 60 into the locking slots 62, and hold the base plates vertically, parallel to the backing plates 28. With the casters 38 thus extended, the entire wheel units 26 may be adjusted vertically to hold the suitcase 10 at the required height, the wheel units being secured by tightening the thumbscrews 58, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

when the wheel units 26 are not required, they may be removed entirely by first removing the thumbscrews 58, then sliding the backing plates 23 until the notches 48 pass over the heads 44 of. guide pins 46. The separated Wheel units 26 may then be placed inside the suitcase for storage. 7

Various types of wheel assemblies have been fitted to heavy cases and the like, but these are normally rigid wheel frames'on which a case is rested. The wheels are not adjustable for height and not retractable for ease of handling, andare usually too large to be stored inside the case. The wheel units described herein are retractable, fully adjustable for height and are sufliciently compact to fit inside the case. The device is particularly suitable for heavy sample cases such as used by salesmen, but is also applicable to conventional personal luggage and other types of containers.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and the above recited objectsv It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. In combination with a suitcase or the like: a pair of wheel units mounted on opposed faces of the suitcase; each wheel unit comprising a plate vertically adjustably mounted on a vertical side of the suitcase, said plate having a hinged lower portion; wheels secured to the extremity of said hinged portion; means for locking said hinged portion in alignment with said plate and with said wheels extended below the suitcase for rolling support thereof; and means for retaining said hinged portion in retracted position.

2. In combination with a suitcase or the like: a pair of generally parallel, fixed skirts extending downwardly on opposite sides of the suitcase; a pair of wheel units removably mounted on the opposite end walls of the suitcase; each wheel unit comprising a backing plate vertically adjustably mounted on the suitcase, said backing plate having a hinged lower portion; wheels secured to the extremity of said hinged portion; means for locking said hinged portion in alignment with said backing plate and with said wheels extended below the suitcase for rolling support thereof; and means for retaining said hinged portion in retracted position and concealed between said skirts.

3. In combination with a suitcase or the like: a pair of generally parallel, fixed skirts extending downwardly on opposite sides of the suitcase; a pair of wheel units removably mounted on the opposite end walls of the suitcase; each wheel unit comprising a backing plate vertically adjustably mounted on the suitcase, said backing plate having an inwardly hinged lower portion; wheels secured to the extremity of said hinged portion; a locking plate slidably mounted on said backing plate and having locking means engageable with said hinged portion to hold the hinged portion in downwardly extended position; and catch means on said hinged portion to retain said wheels in retracted position between said skirts, the skirts constituting supports for the suitcase when said wheels are retracted.

4. In combination with a suitcase or the like: a pair of generally parallel, fixed skirts extending downwardly on opposite sides of the suitcase; a pair of wheel units removably mounted on the opposite end walls of the suit case; each wheel unit comprising a backing plate vertically adjustably mounted on the suitcase, said backing plate having an inwardly hinged lower portion; wheels secured to the extremity of said hinged portion; a locking plate slidably mounted on said backing plate and having locking means engageable with said hinged portion to hold the hinged portion in downwardly extended position; clamping means for securing said wheel units in selected vertical positions on the suitcase; and catch means on said hinged portion to retain said. wheels in retracted position between said skirts, the skirts constituting supports for the suitcase when said wheels are retracted.

5. In combination with a suitcase or the like: a pair of generally parallel, fixed skirts extending downwardly on opposite sides of the suitcase; a pair of wheel units removably mounted on the opposite end walls of the suitcase; each wheel unit comprising a backing plate vertically adjustably mounted on the suitcase, said backing plate having an inwardly hinged lower portion; wheels secured to the extremity of said hinged portion; a locking plate slidably mounted on said backing plate; said backing plate and said hinged portion having corrmponding opposed slots at the junction thereof; said locking plate having fixed pins thereon engageable in said slots and slidable in the slots from said backing plate to said hinged portion to lock the hinged portion in downwardly extended position; clamping means for securing said backing plate and said locking plate together in selected, vertical positions on the suitcase; and catch means on said hinged portion to retain said wheels in retracted position between said skirts, the skirts constituting supports for the suitcase when said wheels are retracted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,027,686 Bollinger May 28, 1912 1,043,038 Alexander Oct. 29, 1912 1,715,865 Rosenteld June 4, 1929 1,808,864 Pinheiro June 9, 1931 1,884,636 Faus Oct. 25, 1932 2,510,754 Norlin June 6, 1950,

FOREIGN PATENTS 404,743 Germany Oct. 24, 1924 231,311 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1925 

